Far East Travels Video Podcast

In this video, Nha Trang Back To Life, I visit some of the iconic sites of the city and share some thoughts from what it's been like since the last lockdown. We are obviously in the midst of one of the greatest challenges the human race has faced in the last 100 years. It's a time where we have an opportunity to grow individually and as a global community. I'm afraid we may miss this opportunity on a world wide scale but there's still hope, there always is. Nha Trang being a town that's relied on a robust tourism industry for some time now has faced one of the worst setbacks of any place in Vietnam as a direct result of the pandemic. I hope the day is coming soon when travelers will be once again welcomed back to the country and the hardships people have faced here will be long behind everyone. As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy. If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways: Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

It's been a few weeks since I last checked in, I apologize for that. The last days of lockdown felt like they were going to drag on forever. Then all of a sudden, some of the gates starting coming down in green zones and we were free to take a walk, pick up some takeaway, and even do some shopping. Either waiting at the door of the store for someone to fill your order or in a rare instance, actually entering a supermarket to pick up some badly needed staples. I found the stores were pretty well stocked except for some produce in one instance but living in Vietnam we are lucky to have many independent sellers with baskets up fresh fruit and produce ready to make a sale. In this video, Nha Trang, After Lockdown Vietnam, I share some moments from the first few days of freedom to a glance at some neighborhood festivities during the Mid-Autumn(Moon) Festival. I feel very grateful to have received my first vaccination here in Nha Trang and I'm on schedule to have my second jab in a few weeks. Life although looking different than before this last wave of the pandemic, seems to be returning slowly to a new normal, much dependent on being fully vaccinated and the use of apps to monitor public spaces and everything from cafes to supermarkets. It's fine we'll get used to it. Thanks again for your support! Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

In this video Nha Trang, (Social Isolation Vietnam), I document visuals of the city before and during the latest pandemic measures. For some, it has been extremely challenging, making it through these latest actions to manage the spread of infections. As extreme as some of these measures are they seemed to have worked so far in Nha Trang. From a logistics point of view it hasn't been easy I'm sure to ensure that people are complying with the latest directives. Overall on my street people have been very cooperative and as I mentioned in the video, industrious in finding ways to make some money with the current restrictions of staying in your home or street. I've managed to buy noodles, fruit, beer, and other essentials within a few steps of my building thanks to these pop-up shops. At the time of publishing this video we have news here in Nha Trang of the slow loosening of restrictions which will include in person shopping and exercise, for those in "green zones". Please stay safe wherever you are, we will get through this! Support the channel with your donation: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Become a Patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Nha Trang is normally a vibrant beach resort town hosting Vietnamese and international travellers with it's world-class bay, beach, and sites. In Nha Trang, Life In Lockdown Vietnam, I talk through the streets and explore the current situation just before the lockdown and reminisce about my visit here in 2016. Some of my very sites here include The Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang Cathedral, and the stunning Po Nagar Cham Towers. Unfortunately all of these sites have been closed since my arrival so I share images from my last trip. Nha Trang is really like most any other city in Southeast Asia that relies heavily on tourism, from locals and foreigners. Many changes have taken place it seems since my last visit include new shopping malls and supermarkets but the beach remains as it was from my memory, inviting and safe. Lockdown has not been easy and for me this is the strictest one I have been through in Vietnam since the pandemic began in March 2020. With patience and an aggressive roll-out of vaccinations hopefully business and life will begin to return to a more normal level of activity. I am especially hopeful for the all the small operators that rely on daily customers from the food cart sellers to the small independent restaurants for as speedy recovery as possible. Thanks again for subscribing and supporting me and the channel! Anything and everything is very much appreciated! Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Monthly pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

It's been several weeks since my last COVID Diaries vlog. I honestly thought I was finished with the series but with the resurgence of the virus in Da Nang I've decided to continue with more videos. We have been impacted but only slightly overall here in Ho Chi Minh,(Saigon). Bars, nightclubs/discos, have been temporarily closed. Mask wearing in public is now mandatory and is being enforced with fines, up to $13USD. As I stated in the video I have been wearing a mask in public since we were first asked to wear them in public. I had never heard it was OK not to wear them. The situation is more serious in Da Nang with approximately 300 new cases detected since July 25th and for the first time, fatalities, as of this posting 18, all with underlying conditions. Thousands of volunteers, military personal, and healthcare workers have been deployed to Da Nang to fight the pandemic. I hope you are staying safe wherever you are, practising social distancing, avoiding crowds if possible, and wearing a mask in public to help stop the spread of the virus. It appears it may be some time before we are all through with this. Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. I hope this series helps people understand how other places like Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks so much for watching and subscribing to the channel! If you feel like supporting the channel with a pledge or donation I would be most grateful. Monthly Pledges-Patreon-Far East Travels Patreon Donations-https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile This video references a little bit about what life is like for me but I'm hoping there are circumstances that anyone can appreciate and relate to as far as managing through this pandemic. It's still really hard to say when Vietnam will open up to the world again but I don't believe it will be before they bring their population up to herd immunity. Let me say here that there has been lots of talk and videos regarding the visa situation in the country. All I will say in my humble opinion is that whatever or however the government deals with visas is their business. I'm merely a guest, grateful to be here knowing that at anytime I might have to leave. Unless you hold permanent residence somewhere that is the reality of life as a foreigner or expat living abroad. I also make reference to people who are or were employed in the tourism industry. My heart goes out to you if you are currently waiting for tourism to reopen in your country wherever in the world. I have hired and worked with many career tourism professionals in the past and I look forward to working with you and using your services hopefully in the not too distant future. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and comments. I look forward to sharing more of life in Vietnam and beyond in the future.

In this video, Vietnam Beaches - Da Nang, I'll visit the more accessible beaches including My Khe, Man Thai, Man Thai Fishing Village, T20, and Son Thuy Beach. These are the closest beaches to most of the hotels and resorts are depending on where you're staying, no more than 10 minutes by taxi or motorbike, and in many cases, within a few minutes walk. I have been fortunate to have traveled through much of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, so when I say this is one of the nicest beaches or coastlines in Asia I'm speaking from first-hand knowledge, it truly is! One thing I did not mention in the video is there is absolutely no cost to visiting any of the beaches in this video, unless you're using a paid parking lot. Currently renting chairs cost d40,000 for the wood chairs that sit under the thatched roofs and d20,000 for the webbed chairs, but I wouldn't recommend using those until the late afternoon when the sun is starting to set. The beaches shown are obviously less crowded due to the current situation and as I mentioned normally My Khe will have more visitors than what you see in the video but the other quieter beaches are not busy during normal times, with the exception possibly of lifeguard stations specifically at Son Thuy Beach. There are many beaches to explore around the Son Tra Peninsula and further south to Hoi An that I hope to share on this channel in the future. Thanks again for watching and giving a thumbs up. Subscribe to the channel and turn on the notification bell so you'll when the latest videos are released and feel free to explore the channel for more videos from Vietnam, the rest of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. You can support the channel either by sending one off donations to:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Become a patron! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Rush Hour Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Series are episodes I'm presenting on the channel that highlight everyday life for the people of HCMC and how they make it through the traffic daily. We'll go to some of the most congested spots in the city so you can see how beyond the initial look of chaos it all seems to function. There are currently an estimated 8.5 million motorbikes in HCMC but the number could even be higher. As the city builds more infrastructure to help keep up with the growth commuters somehow continue to deal with the congestion, sometimes flooding, air pollution, among other things in an effort to improve the overall quality of their life. It's truly remarkable how entrepreneurs have founds ways to help accommodate bike commuters with food carts, markets, and other services you'll see in this series that help keeps the traffic moving. Thanks so much for watching! Any suggestions for interesting traffic spots we should highlight in this series are welcome! *I often get asked what camera or cameras do I use.* I currently use a DJI Osmo Pocket camera and an insta360 One R Twin Edition camera set that includes a dual lens 360 camera I use for drone like shots and other effect shots and a 4K wide angle action camera. If you use the following link to purchase an insta360 One R camera you can get either a free selfie stick or battery with the code in the link. I do receive a small commission if you use this link:https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRA92U

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon has been very good to me. So many positive things have happened since I arrived here almost two years ago. I created this video to help others who are either thinking of moving here or have just recently moved and are looking for some more insight into the options where expats would feel comfortable settling in. As you'll see in the video, there are some things you'll have to deal with depending on where you decide to live. Either traffic issues or a lack of safe places for pedestrians to walk are two things you'll have to come to grips with. Most expats do choose to live close to where they work as the traffic can be a nightmare to deal with, and then there's those downpours during the rainy season. If you are wanting to find out more about living in Ho Chi Minh City you can book a one hour session with me on Zoom or Skype. I can cover many topics from best places for expats to live, shopping, food, entertainment, some health and safety issues, cultural differences, and general things that can save you time and money. You can contact me by email to find out if I can help you out and rates-john@fareasttravels.com. I hope to share more insights and things that can help you learn more about Ho Chi Minh City before you decide to move. *I often get asked what camera or cameras do I use.* I currently use a DJI Osmo Pocket camera and an insta360 One R Twin Edition camera set that includes a dual lens 360 camera I use for drone like shots and other effect shots and a 4K wide angle action camera. If you use the following link to purchase an insta360 One R camera you can get either a free selfie stick or battery with the code in the link. I do receive a small commission if you use this link:https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRA92U

Asia Life In Lockdown covers four cities that are experiencing various levels of lockdown during the latest wave of the pandemic, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, Osaka, Japan, and Taipei, Taiwan. Thanks again to Derek Cowan, Bruno Black, and DaveInOsaka for contributing and sharing their personal experiences during the latest wave of the pandemic. I have been very grateful to be based in Vietnam where despite the latest challenges, has been a relatively safe place to live. The sharp social distancing measures that seemed extreme at first during this latest wave, have recently paid off with the lifting of some of the restrictions in Da Nang. Whatever the future may hold, I have learned alot living through this pandemic and I hope to continue to share some of these experiences with you. Thanks again to all of those that have recently supported the channel. Your donations help cover travel and production costs, and any unforseen expenses. If you would like contribute there are two ways. Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile Monthly Pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Follow Bruno Black Facebook-https://m.facebook.com/brunoblackofficial Podcast:https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F0wsi0TqXSCvAePBioJB5Pk%3Fsi%3DOAi66yvnSxGFubS803Goeg%26utm_source%3Dcopy-link%26fbclid%3DIwAR1N5B6yDVkL-D57Qfq8OI774xiuGlEic6SQbfCzMe2H2tnV_-lPc4Qrvwk&h=AT0Ne8xLZK25HlNaTzqTHeKcWzRUdeDL7XHk8dYMqwmpAV5OrTRoS8dU4iCQYeGQ6G81XRv90d-Fvf_Uv2pa94ii8j-EG_Eznn-NwF-B8nkY3hUqQ3-vbyEblNVIbqhB655cgXpU DaveInOsaka-https://twitter.com/DaveInOsaka

Most of this video was filmed prior to the latest outbreaks of COVID in Vietnam. My intention was simply to create a video about visiting the local markets of Da Nang. Before I was to complete it the country, including Da Nang, was once again taking measures to contain the pandemic. A complete video of my original idea was out of the question so I decided to just show what I had intended to create and what the reality of life is like currently in Da nang. Although the measurements were swift and strong, as in the past, they do tend to gain favorable results. Of course in the future I know I'll have more opportunity to revisit these markets but to be quite frank, I think it was important to share what happened here, as there are currently similar conditions in Southeast Asia and of course throughout most of Asia and the rest of the world. Up until quite recently I felt like I was living in a bubble with little to no local community cases reported in Ho Chi Minh City and here. I certainly do feel that way now, but I am grateful for what seems to be the best measures to contain the situation. Thanks so much for watching and subscribing to the channel. If you feel like supporting my work and the channel you can do so either by PayPal or Patreon. I am grateful for any support you offer! Paypal:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Continuing the channel's traditional market series videos with "Ho Chi Miinh City, Vietnam Traditional Markets Season 1 Episode 3-Tân Mỹ Market District 7. One of the reasons why this is one of my favorite local markets is it's situated in a neighborhood with a few bakeries, an upscale grocery store filled with excellent quality imported foods, and some good inexpensive vegetarian restaurants. The people here are especially friendly and I find the operators are fair with pricing and the quality of fruit is especially good. I lived out in this area for awhile so I found it was very convenient. If you're looking for an interesting local style market to break up your visit to all of the landmark sites in Ho Chi MInh this is a good option. Approximately 15-20 minutes by car from District 1 depending on traffic. If you're a photographer visit in the morning anytime before 9am. In the afternoon after 4pm will give you some great shots.

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. The traditional markets of Ho Chi Minh City continues with a visit to the unique Kenh Te Floating Market on Tran Xuan Soan Street alongside the Kenh Te Canal. Although you're on dry land at he little market on the side of the road, unlike the floating markets of the Mekong River Delta it is a unique setting. Vendors selling fruit mostly come from various provinces of the Mekong River Delta Region, which is where most of the fruit grown in Vietnam is grown. These sellers live on their boats that are moored on the canal and live a relatively modest life. With the waterfront setting it's nice to visit an hour or two before sunset, but you will have to be mindful of the volume of traffic that travels along Tran Xuan Soan. Getting some wonderfully fresh fruit, engaging with these super friendly folks and supporting their community is a truly unique attraction and one which few visitors to the city ever take the time to experience.Hope you enjoy the video and thanks again for watching!

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Traditional Markets S1 -S1 Episode 2-Vuon Chuoi Market/Secret Weapons Basement located in District 3 is a wonderfully authentic market and neighborhood combined with a national landmark-the Caphe Do Phu, the former house that with it's secret basement filled with 2 tons of weapons was a major part of the Tet Offensive that commenced on Jan. 30, 1968. As I mentioned in the video I believe in order to understand the history of Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), and it's people it's really important to visit these sites and neighborhoods for an unfiltered view of everyday life. Down the alleys and streets in this part of District 3 you'll be hard pressed to find a chain coffee shop or restaurant. Lots of local independent businesses like the market sellers and shops that surround Vuon Chuoi Market along with indie cafes like Caphe Do Phu which is also a designated cultural site. The market and cafe are within 5 minutes of each other so they make a perfect morning visit. This is the second episode in a multi-series on the Traditional Markets and their neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City. If you enjoyed the video please give a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so won't miss any new episodes when they're released! Cafe Pho Du 287/72 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street-District 3 Vuon Choui Market-428 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu-District 3

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Traditional Markets Season 1 Episode 1-Ba Chieu Market is the first of a multi-episode series focusing on local/traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City,(Saigon). I've also been fascinated with traditional markets whether they're in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. My trips aren't complete without multi-visits to the traditional markets of wherever I'm staying. Fortunately because locals still support these markets, even with the invasion of the hypermarket to Asia, we are blessed to be able to experience these temples of food and the simple great joys of life. In this series I'll be covering off some basic tips, suggestions, and of course the most interesting markets Ho Chi MInh City has to offer. All 24 districts have at least one major market but many have several as well as smaller lane markets or street markets as well. I'll be featuring markets that are usually within about a 15-30 minute taxi ride from District 1, where most visitors stay when they're in Saigon. I can't stress how much visiting these markets is so important in discovering and learning more about everyday life in Vietnam. Unlike tourist markets like Ben Thanh Market you'll find that people aren't as aggressive at getting your business as they really have no souvenirs to sell and almost all of their customers are local. So in some ways these market are a little more relaxed to wander around, even with the traffic! I just love these places and I hope when you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City you'll get the chance to see one or more of these markets during your stay, so much more memorable and authentic than any market that's primarily focused on tourists. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to The Far East Travels Podcast:https://apple.co/385ne0m

In this video I visit Lương Như Học Street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 5 for their annual Lantern Street for Mid Autumn Festival In Vietnam. This is a great way to take part in the festival as most of this 4000 year-old celebration is centered around the family gathering. District 5 is one of my favorite places to wander in Saigon. It's filled with alleys full of character and heritage. Old Chinese style shophouses, colonial and art deco architecture along with modern Vietnamese architecture of the 19 1960's can all be admired here along with some of the busiest wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Lương Như Học Street is in the heart of District 5, I'll leave a Google Maps link below. The lantern street starts about 2 weeks prior to the Mid-Autumn Festival, 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar every year. You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Luong Nhu Hoc Street:https://goo.gl/maps/zSrXX1rQcKox8afEA

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPalFundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa,mc,WeChat, AliPay)You can support me through Patreon:Pledge monthlyThanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. I hope this series helps people understand how other places like Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode I share my feelings on how safe I feel here as well as a story about a very compassionate Vietnamese entrepreneur and why I think places like Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan are having more success dealing with the pandemic than many Western countries, it's very much a cultural thing. In coming episodes I'll try to move around the city and share with you some different backdrops as well as more stories and personal thoughts. Thanks again, please stay safe, spend most of your time at home if it's possible, and try not to touch your face. Blessings to you from Vietnam....

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPalFundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa,mc,WeChat,AliPay)You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Things are changing daily as far as visas, which countries will be denied entry, and other requirements for Vietnam. It's amazing at the time of the publishing of this video that there are still less than 80 cases of COVID-19 in Vietnam with no fatalities. As I mentioned in the video there will probably be a spike in numbers this week as many Vietnamese return from Europe and other parts of Southeast Asia amidst fears of being stuck somewhere with no way of getting home. It appears the Vietnamese government is well prepared with additional health care workers and quarantine facilities. Keep watching for more videos as this series continues.

Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPalFundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa, mc, WeChat, AliPay)You can support me through Patreon:Pledge monthlyI'm in Vietnam, (Ho Chi Minh/Saigon), until further notice so I thought it might be compelling to relate what the situation like is here during COVID-19 crisis. Vietnam made some pretty tough decisions early on and I believe it's helped them contain the virus to, at the time of this video being posted, 61 patients and with no fatalities. Of course like most everywhere else in the world that has a robust tourism sector it will be devastating to those in that industry. I truly feel for the restaurants, hotels, and services that primarily cater to tourists whether their foreigners or locals.

In this video Cambodia Know Before You Go Siem Reap Guide I take you on a walking tour of some of the busy and quiet areas of the town so you have an easy choice as to where you'd like to spend your time. Mostly used as a gateway to Angkor Wat and the Angkor Ruins Siem Reap can be almost anything you want it to be whether it's a place to party in between visits to Angkor or a quiet spot to reflect and process the amazing temples and structures you'll be exploring. Pub Street and Phsar Chas, the Old Market area are the most popular places to hangout. If you're looking for more of a quieter spot try the Wat Damnak area for everything from family style inexpensive humble restaurants to stylish multi-course dinner venues. The alleys amongst the heritage buildings south of Phsar Chas have some great little restaurants and cafes. The Old French Quarter has some very exclusive options including 3 choices at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor along with some classy and low key places like FCC Angkor and the Siem Reap Brewpub. I personally like the quieter neighborhoods like Wat Damnak and the less touristy but interesting hipster like Kandal Village. You really are missing out if you don't get out into the smaller local restaurants away from the Pub Street area for a more authentic Khmer experience. Thanks again for watching! Don't forget to subscribe to The Far East Travels Podcast:Audio Podcast

In this video, Phnom Penh Russian Market, Exploring The Neighborhood I check inside the market and visit some places and people that have made the area their home. This is one of the city's most interesting neighborhoods. A mix of traditional Khmer stores and shops, and expat businesses, with the center of the neighborhood being the Russian Market, or Toul Tom Puong. It's still a busy area but I find it a little more relaxing to walk and explore it's many streets and lanes that are quieter than many parts of Phnom Penh. Only a 20 minute tuk-tuk ride from Riverside it definitely attracts a different crowd which mostly is made up of locals, expats, and some tourists that are interested in the market, shopping, and eating at some of the most diverse restaurants and cafes in the city. The Russian Market got it's name from the expat Russians who made this area their home in the 1980's, a time when most of the expats of Phnom Penh were from the former Soviet Union. Today the expat community is quite diverse, with people from many Western countries who are here either as English teachers, NGO workers, or entrepreneurs. There are also expats from other parts of Asia including India, Turkey, and the Philippines as well as China. This is a fantastic neighborhood to sample classic street food at either the night market outside Toul Tom Poung market that operates every evening or at many of the food carts that you'll find in the area. I enjoyed my dinner at Nesat Seafood House but there are also some traditional seafood bbq stands and restaurants around Toul Tom Puong. It was great meeting Tyler from Riel Brewing Distillery. They are usually open a couple of nights a week but they are primarily a brewery supplying their wonderful craft beers to restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Visit their website to find out more:Riel Brewing Distilling

In this video I visit a China Fake Paris style development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Koh Pich, or Diamond Island is a huge residential/commercial development located in an area of Phnom Penh that used to be a swamp until 2000 on the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Elysee is the Paris inspired development that is similar in style to the fake Paris cities of China like Tianducheng, a suburb of Shanghai with it's own fake Eiffel Tower.Interestingly enough it appears that Elysee is being marketed to foreign, particularly Chinese investors, who can afford to fork over between $800,000 to over $1.1 million USD for the units that are available. The setting is nice enough but it still doesn't appear to be complete let alone occupied 4 years after ground breaking began. The new high rise buildings in the same area seem to fit in more with the modernization of Southeast Asia then the bizarre out of place Elysee. Elite Town another "old world" development doesn't seem like it fits in any better. Hopefully these won't be future "ghost cities" or towns. The setting itself is quite attractive with a lovely boardwalk along the Bassac and special events and celebrations have been held here in the past like the Water Festival.

*NOTE* The immigration office at the moment will accept your applications between 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday. You will receive a receipt with a copy of your passport that you can use as id while you’re waiting for your passport and visa extension. There was a time when it was difficult if not impossible to extend a tourist visa in Cambodia yourself but that seems to have changed. I recently completed my Cambodian Visa extension tourist, "T" class visa while staying in Phnom Penh and it was completely hassle-free. Everything you need to know to extend your visa is in my Cambodian Visa Extension DIY Tourist "T" Class video. I was charged the standard $30USD fee at the Cambodian Immigration Department office across from the Phnom Penh International Airport. Most travel agencies in Phnom Penh charge $49USD total for the visa and their services. In some cases they may not do it unless you give them your passport and the fee a week or longer before your visa expires. As I stated in the video, in order for this to be cost effective you'll need to take local bus #3 from Phnom Penh to the airport. Expect your total investment of time to be approximately 3 hours initially. When you pick up your passport after your visa extension has been completed, approximately a week later it shouldn't take longer than the travel time, about an hour each way, along with a 10 minute wait to pick up your passport. Although I haven't tried it myself it is also possible to extend an "E" class visa if you have been offered a job, are looking for a job, or are wanting to start a business. This will require more paperwork and letters and or appropriate proof of a business, retirement etc. depending on which extension you're applying for. You can visit an agency in Phnom Penh that specializes in these extensions and many travel agencies are also able to help you with this service as well. For tourists wanting to stay longer than 30 days in Cambodia, especially those on a budget, it's nice to know it appears easy and relatively simple to do this now in Phnom Penh. Just remember although you don't need a passport photo for a visa on arrival now, you will be asked for one when you request to extend your tourist visa. You'll just need to bring $30USD for the visa extension fee along with your passport. After the immigration officer checks your passport and visa they will give you a one page form to fill out. When you pay the fee and hand over your passport, photo, and application form the officer will give you a receipt. Keep this in a safe place and remember to bring this to the office when you're picking up your passport. That's it!Hope you find this helpful for your next visit to Cambodia!

First off, these scams are not endemic to Phnom Penh or Cambodia for that matter. They can be found in other cities across Asia and beyond. In Phnom Penh Scams as far as the "buying milk for my baby" and fake monk scams go it's up to you whether you choose to give these people money. I'm just sharing this info so you know what's actually happening. The blackjack scam has been reported in Phnom Penh for years now but I've also seen reports of it taking place in Ho Chi Minh City as well. As I stated in the video there was a group arrested in the summer of 2019 but it's possible that other teams or groups are carrying on the scam here. I believe it's a little more sophisticated than "oh that's a nice shirt, where are you from" scenario that usually is the start of some petty scam. This one involving multiple players is definitely more complex but if you have your wits about you it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what's going on. I have pieced together a possible scenario or two based on many reports in forums and from news sources. It might not be precisely what occurs but it should be close enough for you to detect if you are experiencing the same kind of exchange. If someone really is genuinely interested in chatting with you or sharing travel stories they won't mind if you suggest a place to meet. If they have lots of excuses for not doing so and insist a location of their choice then you'll know they're up to no good. If you want to donate money to real local monks of course it's possible to do so but there is some etiquette you should know before you begin, otherwise you could make them feel awkward or uncomfortable. It's best just to observe how locals do it during the morning alms, when monks wander the streets for donations. There are more scams I will cover off in another video. Thanks for watching! Don't forget to check out my Far East Travels Podcast in the iTunes Store, Spotify, or whatever platform you download your podcasts from:Write A Review Support the podcast by becoming a patron:Support The Podcast

Phnom Penh in my opinion has one of the coolest looking markets in Southeast Asia, the art deco Central Market. The Khmer name of the market is ផ្សារធំថ្មី, "Phsar Thom Thmey", which technically translates to "New Grand Market" in English. When it opened in 1937 it was considered the largest market in Asia. Even today it's easy to see it dwarfs markets like Saigon's Ben Tanh Market. The ceiling of the dome area reaches 26 meters with four arched arms that house many stalls from tshirts, to pots and pans. Ever since I first saw it I was attracted to it's grand scale and the market itself is very interesting, almost a theme park for shoppers and food lovers. In the main dome you'll find gold, gems, watch, and jewelry sellers. The four arms are somewhat categorized with either clothing, electronics, or household items. This market is not solely focused on tourists as you'll see by the traditional Khmer clothing for sale along with everyday household items, hardware, and more. The perimeter area is my favorite place to wander as it's where you'll find the wet market and food area with all kinds of special Cambodian delicacies from dried fish to sweets. There's also a large dining area where you can sample local favorites including all kinds of noodle soups and bbq seafood. This is my 3rd visit to Phnom Penh in the last 4 years. During this current visit I spent almost every day wandering around the market for an hour or so to familiarize myself with the layout and to observe some of the little everyday things that some people might miss if they only visit it once, like the area where they slide the ice into the market for chipping. I hope you enjoy the video and subscribe to channel! I have a passion for exploring East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia and have made it the focus of my life for the past 6 years. I also have an audio podcast I would love you to check out! Feedback is always welcome:Audio Podcast

Chinatown Ho Chi Minh City or Cholon(District 5,6,10) in my opinion is one of the most exciting districts in Saigon. I'm excited to share this busting neighborhood with you and it's historic Binh Tay Market. This is primarily a wholesale market for shop owners, cafes, and restaurants so it's not necessarily an ideal place to shop but it's an exciting place to visit. I love wandering through the market and the surrounding neighborhood with all of it's local ma and pa shops. The lack of international brands and chain shops is refreshing as well. It's a real personable place with locals greeting many visitors that make their way out to these districts. I really hope these videos encourage people to visit because you'll get such a different experience here than you will if you spend most of your time around Bui Vien or Pham Ngo Lao and the rest of District 1.Start out from Binh Tay Market and just wander. There are interesting shops everywhere and surprisingly still a record of the development of Saigon with architecture that spans the French colonial era, art deco, and 50's -70's. The Chinese style shophouses are still to be found in the are with traditional character signs. There are also some wonderful Buddhist/Taoist temples to visit that I didn't cover off in this video. Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy these street videos.

Join me for a visit to the Tan My Market, one of the most interesting local markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Most people that visit Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon for the first time end up at the Ben Thanh Market. Nothing wrong with that, it's an interesting place too, one of the oldest markets in the country. But it left behind it's traditional roots along time ago and today is geared almost exclusively to tourists. If you want a true authentic market experience, I mean where they still kill chickens to order, sell live fish, frogs, and other seafood out of tanks or aluminum trays, then head for the Tan My Market in District 7 or one of several traditional markets that still do business everyday in and around the greater Ho Chi Minh area. Not only will you be able to observe daily life in a neighborhood like this one, but you won't be constantly asked if you want to buy a t-shirt, or coffee, or anything! In fact if you have any engagement at all with locals it will be the friendly warm welcoming that people in these neighborhoods exude, especially at the sign of a rare visit from a foreigner. If you do want to buy, most everyone will be happy to help you, and even though their English skills will be limited or non existent, they'll still find a way to communicate. I also find in these markets that everyone is fairly honest, in fact I would be shocked if you weren't given the local price everyone else gets. Thanks for watching! I would love to connect with you. Send me an email to john@fareasttravels.com. Please also follow me on any or all of the social media links on the front page. Also feel free to subscribe to my audio podcast:Far East Travels Podcast-(Audio)

I'm somewhat disappointed when I see visitors to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City only having time to visit it's most famous market, Ben Thanh Market. Unfortunately as interesting a place it is, it's not the true reflection of a real traditional market in Saigon. To me it almost feels like a recreation of the real thing. It has the variety of stalls, even a wet market that operates in the morning, and lots of local dishes you can try but it lacks the soul of a real traditional market. Also because it's geared towards tourists it has very little of the authentic charm and warmth that you'll find in a non-tourist market. If you're in Saigon, walk over the charming little Rainbow Bridge into District 4 to visit the Xom Chieu Market. This is the real traditional style local market and it's here where you'll truly experience the warmth and charm of the Vietnamese. You'll also be free to roam, take pictures, and explore the market and surrounding area without being hassled by sellers,(I know, they're just trying to put food on the table). It's also a great place to do some shopping to fill up your fridge in your hotel with some local snacks, and fresh fruit. Don't worry about the language barrier. Most people that work in these markets do not speak English, but they'll understand "how much"? and either show you the bills or use a calculator to tell you the price. I also find that in these markets people are generally honest and do not try to cheat or overcharge foreigners. You'll notice the prices are cheaper compared with District 1 as well as a much more relaxed environment. One thing you do have to be careful of are the motorbikes that are constantly streaming through area. People, as you'll see, do not walk and shop in Saigon. Parking is sometimes a hassle and most are just accustomed to shopping on their motorbike. Xom Chieu Market-Le Van Linh (Lê Văn Linh) street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh (Hồ Chí Minh) City  Thanks so much for watching! Would love to get your feedback on the podcast or ideas for future podcasts. I'll be uploading more of these vlog style podcasts from Asia and would love to hear your thoughts. john@fareastravels.com Help support the podcasts by becoming a patron! $5/month gets you exclusive access to private episodes of the audio podcast. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

For Nepal 2015 will go down as one of the worst years on record, for disasters, politics, everything! On April 25 at 11:56am an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 shook the country from it's epicenter at Lamjung District at Barpak, Gorkha. In the weeks to follow hundreds of aftershocks would be felt. In the end over 9000 were killed at least 21,000 injured and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes either temporarily or permanently. I decided to follow up on the state of the country shortly after most of the international media had left. My intention was to document the effects of the earthquakes and aftershocks and assess the conditions for travellers. Nepal relies heavily on tourism to support the economy, in fact it is normally 10% of the GDP, gross domestic product. Many rely on tourism to support their families, in some cases the only alternative to working abroad, something that over 1 million Nepalis do. Having made friends in Nepal's tourism industry I had deep concerns for their welfare. Some international media were reporting that this would be the end of tourism for Nepal, devastating words almost as strong as an earthquake itself. I knew that some sites were completely destroyed including many temples in the Durbar Squares of the Kathmandu Valley. But I also knew that many had either suffered some minor damage or none at all. Was the industry really in ruins? So I set off for Nepal, with a scheduled arrival for 1pm at Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu. My adventure started just before we were about to land with an announcement from the pilot that another earthquake had struck the country. Our descent would be delayed so crews could check for any damage to the runways. Ninety minutes later we touched down to a country shaken into another level of fear with a 7.3 aftershock with an epicenter 18km southeast of Kodari near the border of China. The epicenter was on the border of Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk. More nights of sleeping outdoors, shops and businesses staying closed, and stories floating around of more, stronger earthquakes on the way. The first episode in a series on Far East Adventure Travel-the people, stories, and places effected by the Nepal earthquakes of 2015.

One of the greatest adventure destinations on the planet-Everest Base Camp, Nepal! We were so blessed with having clear skies in the morning and afternoon each day above 4000 meters. The moments were precious as I mentioned in the video so working fast to capture these moments on video was crucial. I would usually jump out of bed between 5:30-6am, 90 minutes before our scheduled breakfasts on most mornings, to ensure I captured footage of these giants of the Himalayas. Fortunately most of the time the skies remained clear up until the early afternoon. Then like in Lobuche, the skies would clear up again just before sunset, enabling me to get some video of beautiful Nuptse. This was my second time on this trail, I previously completed the Gokyo Valley/Everest Base Camp trek 4 years ago and was still completely overjoyed to be in this setting again. I hope you enjoyed the video and perhaps it will inspire you to head to Nepal to trek to the highest mountain in the world!

Experiencing different climates from sub tropical to literally touching the Tibetan Plateau, topping it off with an ascent of the highest point of the trek, the Thorung La Pass at 5416 meters. As well, seeing and interacting with the people of several different cultures and villages that dot the valleys. Our timing for the trek was perfect starting on the biggest day of the country’s most important festival of the year Dasai, usually falling sometime in October. The festival celebrates the God Durga with the theme of good conquering evil and culminating with almost every family sacrificing an animal, in most cases a goat, as part of the celebration. Rituals and prayers take place before the final sacrifice but we didn’t stick around to watch. Another tradition of the Hindu festival is constructing a swing in the village for children that’s used only during the celebration. Along the path we came across a small herd of lucky goats that appeared to have dashed the sacrifices for this year’s festival. Our first stop was lunch in Bhulbhule, a small village with a population of just over 3000 that sits below views of Mansalu, the 8th highest mountain in the world at 8163 meters. These days many trekkers take a bus all the way to Bhulbhule to make this town their starting point of the Annapurna Circuit. It’s still very warm during the day at 840 meters elevation so we could enjoy the scenery and lunch in short sleeves next to the Marshyangdi River. Shortly after leaving the village we were hit with a huge downpour of rain so we stopped over in a little hut to avoid a drenching. When we finally got moving again we came across a giant new dam funded by the Chinese government. A construction flag marking the spot as a Chinese project was visible from the trail. An investment of this size is very helpful to local residents with steady work for many but it is definitely changing the landscape of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Less and less of the original trail exists, replaced by roads that now take people and goods all the way to Manang, the last big village before crossing the Thorung La Pass. This region is considered subtropical and there’s lots of scenery to enjoy from beautiful terraced rice paddies to traditional villages. One highlight of trekking Annapurna are the frequency of villages allowing for plenty of comfortable stops for tea breaks and more opportunity to gaze at beautiful rice terraces and fruit trees. To get from one village to another most of the people of the area walk so it’s not uncommon to run into villagers especially along the old trail. One of the reasons why I insisted we stayed on this route as much as possible. On a good portion of the trail there’s plenty of company from the Marshyangdi River. And lots of village life to observe. Like some local villagers involved in a traditional Nepali gambling game. Hari my guide pronounces the name for me. We continued on our way to Chamche where we’d spend the night. Still more little villages along the way with dramatic waterfalls made the long day of trekking seem like a short hike. Finally we arrived in Chamche, where the village was preparing for their final night of celebrating Dashai, with dancing and singing performances. The next morning we were ready to go by 8am with a new plan of just a 2-3 hour trek to the village of Thal. I had come down with a cold so we decided it was best to try to rest while we were at a relatively low altitude before trekking into the higher villages of the region in Manang District. Still sticking with the old trail as much as possible to keep the trek as close to the original route. After walking for a couple of hours we reached the gate that marks the entrance to Manang District. Thal is a wonderful little village and we had the pleasure of staying in a perfect guesthouse, with super clean rooms, attached bathrooms and great food. I spoke with the owner Guru about the tragic trekking accident that happened on the Annapurna Circuit around the same time the previous year and how such disasters can be avoided. As well, Guru gave us some background on the village. After chatting with Guru we started back on the trail with a little stop to enjoy another waterfall just outside of the village. The next few moments were terrifying and proof that accidents happen quickly and without notice. Join me next time on Far East Adventure Travel for more of trekking Nepal's Annapurna Circuit.

It's alway exciting when you first arrive in a destination like Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. The sights, food, people, the environment as a whole. I have so many great memories of Kuching in particular because I was able to easily explore the town by foot. Meeting local people, being invited into the Sikh Gurdwara for lunch and a tour. Walking in the old Kampongs, traveling by riverboat on the Sarawak River, and meeting the warm, friendly, and hospitable people of the region. I hope this episode gives you a taste of what this amazing place on the exotic island of Borneo has to offers.

Japanese Toilets-The Complete Travel Experience knack for innovation is unprecedented in all areas throughout the world but especially when it comes to technology. This is obviously not new of course but when you actually visit the country it becomes evident how much the need for innovating and improving on just about everything permeates the culture. You’ll come in contact with this no matter what you do from ordering a meal in a restaurant with a vending machine to flushing a toilet. In this podcast I run through the control panel of a typical toilet you’ll find in most hotels on your next visit to Japan. I promise this experience will be something you definitely share with friends and coworkers. Hey, I did a whole podcast on the subject. That’s how amazing these toilets are!!!

Where To Stay In Saigon(Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam-6 Great Locations Need to book a hotel for Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), or anywhere else? Using this link to book your hotel with Agoda will give you the same great price and help us out with a small commission:https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&cid=1741552&city=13170 This video is a guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in if you are a visiting Saigon as a traveler or tourist. The chosen because of their proximity to the main sites people are interested in seeing while staying in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as well as dining and shopping options that are nearby. Personally I do like Dong Khoi and Da Kao as far as location goes and they are great options if you have the budget. They might not be suitable if you are trying to get a taste of everyday life in Saigon. Those neighborhoods would include, Nguyen Thai Binh, Co Giang/Co Bac, and parts of District 3. Of course there are lots of other options if you are adventurous and wanting to stay even more off the beaten path. But you will be using taxis or ride shares to get around as places like District 5, 7, are too far out to walk to sites. Perhaps you’d like to stay in the new Vinpearl Landmark 81 hotel, again you’ll be needing to catch rides everywhere. Thanks again for listening! 6 Neighborhoods Where You Should Stay in Saigon, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, has a wide variety of options for hotels, guesthouses, and hostels. From a humble dorm bed to 5 star luxury suites. Most of the sites that are of interest to traveler’s can be found in District 1, or D1. I’ll break it down into 6 different areas that will help you decide which location is best suited to you. The Dong Khoi area is at the center of Saigon’s District 1 and close to many of the top sites of the city so it makes for a perfect base, if you’ve got the budget. Dong Khoi, Nguyen Hue, and riverside has the highest concentration of 5 star hotels in the city, but if you dig around you can find some midrange places too as well as Airbnb’s. Nice streets and sidewalks that are usually clear of motorbikes, the finest restaurants in the city, with a huge variety of cuisine from Vietnamese to Indian, Japanese, Argentinian, and some very smart cafes. Rooftop bars at some of the most iconic hotels in Saigon, trendy nightclubs, and beautiful French colonial architecture that blends with the modern. You won’t get a sense of every day Saigon in this neighborhood but you’ll be pretty comfortable. You really can walk to most of the popular landmarks or sites from Dong Khoi. Being a place that attracts traveler’s with large budgets expect a fair amount of attention from motorbike taxis, massage hostesses, shoe cleaners, and sunglass salespeople. And always guard your personal items. Stay away from the edges of sidewalks when checking messages or google maps on your phone or taking selfies. On Dong Khoi street you’ll find some of the cities iconic hotels, near the Saigon River, more classics and more 5 stars. Near the War Remnants Museum and just outside District 1 in District 3 is another area worth considering for it’s good selection of midrange and moderately priced hotels. You might want to use a taxi to get to some of the sites but you’ll be in a less touristy area, with some great restaurants, food streets, and a more local feel. A little closer to the airport too! The Ben Thanh Market area is loaded with conveniences from a great variety of Vietnamese, Malaysian, Japanese, and Western restaurants to money changers located on the streets directly across from the west and north side of the market and tour booking services everywhere. Don’t forget the market itself where you can bargain hard for a variety of clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and sample Vietnamese food. This is great shopper’s area with streets surrounding the market holding potential bargains on shoes, clothes and other items and within a short walking distance to the modern Saigon Center shopping mall and the Saigon Square bargain center. There’s also a night market that opens after 6pm. If you like attention you get loads of it at Ben Thanh!Located between the Dong Khoi and Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien backpacker area, this is a perfect location for covering off sites and close enough to long distance bus pick-up locations to travel beyond Saigon.   A 5 minute walk to the Bui Vien backpacker area if you want to be close to the action but not right in the middle of it and about 10 minutes to Ben Thanh Market is Co Bac/Co Giang. This neighborhood has a few budget options in some of its lanes and streets and will also make you feel less like a visitor and more like a resident with it’s traditional feeling neighborhood and a morning market where you can pick up some fruit and street food. This area also has a vibrant street food scene at night and a mix of old school and newer cafes and restaurants.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia-5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit I truly hope you find these videos informative and helpful, especially if it's your first time to Cambodia. It had been 4 years since my last visit and it doesn't appear to have changed much as far as the bag snatching goes. I was warned several times as I was walking around filming to be careful of my stuff. If this video helps one person avoid the loss of their personal items I will feel  this one together was well worth it! Everything else in the video is pretty straightforward. I really enjoy interacting with the Khmer, there are so easy going, warm, and friendly. The culture is one of the richest most interesting in the region and I will definitely be sharing more of it along with other helpful videos on Kampot, Siem Reap and other destinations within the country in the future. The stories of people posing in bathing suits and naked at cultural sites and temples like Angkor are quite disturbing to me. I really don't care if people want to pose naked or almost naked at their hotel swimming pool but to do this in places of worship and that are extremely sacred to the local people is completely selfish and insensitive to the culture. I hope those that visit make an extra effort to follow some of the local customs and show respect to Khmers, above all be gracious and humble. They really do appreciate the effort! Thanks again for watching! FYI-The tshirt meaning in the thumbnail is a Khmer saying. "When you are angry you lose everything"! Couldn't agree more!!!

Ghost Festival Day-Praying For The Hungry Ghosts-Saigon Vietnam Throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia during the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar it's believed that the gates of hell are opened so as to allow ghosts to wander the earth for the month. These ghosts are said to have experienced a particularly bad death, or do not have anyone praying for them in the after life. Followers of Buddhism and Taoism as well as others who believe in the presence of these ghosts will put out offerings of food and drink, as well as money. Prayers are also offered so the ghosts will not create mischief or havoc during the month. There are many superstitions that surround the ghost month including not getting married, starting a business or going on vacation. The most important day is the full moon day which is considered Ghost Festival Day falling on the 15 day of the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar. In Vietnam this also coincides with Vu Lan which is like a Mother's Day. People also go to the temple to prayer for the mothers but usually prayer for fathers as well as the rest of the family. If you spot someone wearing a red rose it means their mother or parents are still alive. If you see them wearing a white rose it means the mother or father is deceased. If you want to see any of these rituals when visiting Saigon the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda in District 5 is a good place to visit as well as other temples in this district. Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi would also be great places to see the rituals surrounding this month or day when visiting Vietnam.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-Breakfast Stop And Largest KL Wet Market-Pudu I always have a great time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! First the food is amazing! Easily one of my favorite food cities in Asia, then the wonderful hospitable people, finally the exciting cultural mix! And that's just the start! In this episode I share with you one of my favorite pastimes in KL. Visiting restorans, the cheap cafes that are found everywhere around the city. I absolutely don't feel like I've arrived in KL until I have an order of roti canai, the flaky bread that's dunked in dhal, or other types of curries. For breakfast, absolutely! A masala dosa is another dish I have a hard time resisting for breakfast. Spicy potatoes, with some onion wrapped in a crepe made from rice and lentils soaked in water. Wash it down with a teh terek, pulled tea, and you've got the quintessential restoran stop as far as I'm concerned. The Pudu Wet Market is the largest one of it's kind in KL. If you're a cook, or just into food, you must visit this market. As Anthony Bourdain used to say, if you want to get to know a culture visit their markets. This one is indeed impressive, with everything from pet dogs, to live chickens, an amazing variety of seafood and truly some of the friendliest people on the planet. Some pretty crazy stuff too, I didn't film the guy firing his cap gun every few seconds to get people to notice the smartphone accessories he was selling. Thanks again to all of the wonderful people who were so kind to show me their goods and exchange some smiles!

Penang, Malaysia-Best Street Food Dish/Drink/Bourdain Food Court I sampled one of the best char kway teows I had on my visit, a thirst quenching nutmeg juice with sour plum, and a grilled stingray feast at a food court Anthony Bourdain visited on his last trip to George Town, Penang. I was still surprised with the influx of tourists advancing on George Town in the past few years that street food prices are still low, in alot of cases no more than 5 Ringit=$1.20USD for alot of the classic dishes from laksa to char kway teow and many more. My grilled stingray, large, feast with a nice side of stir-fried vegetables and rice was less than $14USD including beer.One of the most unique drinks I've ever tried was the nutmeg juice that I found out later is only served or available in Penang and Indonesia, obviously where nutmeg is grown. Evidently alot of the fruit that surrounds the nut gets turned into charcoal and exported, Indonesia. Wonderfully thirst quenching in the tropical heat and humidity of Penang. So George Town is definitely worthy of a visit, especially if you appreciate great food! You won't find the same kind of variety of accommodation that you will in other tourist hot spots of Southeast Asia. On the budget end to moderate priced properties there's a good chance you'll have to take a room and use a shared bathroom. George Town has the most pre WWII buildings in all of Southeast Asia and although many have been converted to today's standard of accommodations, many places haven't or simply can't. You'll probably notice some rooms with a bathroom and shower in the corner almost looking like it was just placed there next to the bed, it probably was! If you're out enjoying the sites, eating some of the best food in Southeast Asia you'll soon forget about your odd accommodations. Thanks so much for watching the video and please don't forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications!Please feel free to check out and subscribe to my audio podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-Best Visitor Guide To The KL Monorail/LRT/MRT/Batu Caves I've put together a basic simple guide to what most visitors need to know to get around on KL's LRT/Monorail and trains. At first glance the lines can look a little on the complicated side but provided you're staying in a typical tourist center, like KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, or around KLCC this guide should provide you with all you need to know. The KL Monorail, Kelana Jaya line, the newer SBK Line, and the Komuter train that takes you to the Batu Caves will get you to most popular landmarks and sites around the city. It's also helpful to be familiar with KL Sentral as this is the major hub for transportation which includes buses to and from both airport terminals, the KLIA Express train to both terminals and other trains. By the way there are shower facilities available for a nominal fee at KL Sentral. They were really handy one time when I had an 8 hour layover coming from Nepal while waiting for my flight to Taipei. A nice quick refreshing shower made my day while visiting KLCC just before Christmas. Even though in the video it looks like I only use tokens, this was only for demonstration purposes. I recommend if you're staying longer than a short layover to get a KL Touch 'n Go card. They are super convenient and you will feel it was well worth the nominal 5 Ringit purchase when you see the line-ups at the token machines during rush hour. Here's more on the Touch 'n Go card:https://www.touchngo.com.my/CMS/Personal/Products/Touch-n-Go-Card/About-Touch-n-Go-Card/As English is an official language of Malaysia you will find instructions and signs in English everywhere! Hope you enjoy the video and it helps you have a smooth stay in one of my favorite cities of Southeast Asia!

Tasting Banana Street Food Desserts In Saigon, Vietnam Two of my favorite desserts in Saigon, chuoi chien, (fried banana), and chuoi nep nuong, grilled banana with sticky rice coating, (batter), in warm coconut pudding. These treats make great snacks anytime of day and there are still many carts and stands that sell them in all of the districts. Vinachuoi.com has a stand in District 1 near the Nguyen Hue Walking Street.https://goo.gl/maps/4xmDVvkn1d819NyA9and another one here:https://goo.gl/maps/CbuNwJuLCNGNTWLY9The wonderful place that churns out grilled bananas with coconut pudding is located here:https://goo.gl/maps/8EUe6vBQq7CMgfQW9 Just remember they close at 7pm.You can also find places around the Ben Thanh Market that sell these treats but they're usually more expensive. You can find carts and stands scattered around Districts 3, 5 and 10. These locations listed are some of my favorite places for fried and grilled bananas. Thanks so much for watching the video and subscribing to the channel. Please also feel free to check out and subscribe to my podcast Far East Travels:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943

Tasting McDonald's New Chocolate Pies-George Town, Malaysia I love chocolate so when I heard about McDonald's Malaysia releasing their much anticipated chocolate pie I was the first to order them at their historic Birch House location in George Town-Penang, Malaysia. Apparently when Singapore introduced the chocolate pie in March 2018 it immediately sold out and was actually taken off the menu shortly after. It was expected to be a limited edition item but being such an Instragammable subject and with a huge demand it was brought back to the menu and was also introduced in Malaysia June 6, 2019! I was lucky enough to be one of the first to try it at their wonderful Birch House location on the morning of June 6th. It's actually quite an interesting dessert, not too sweet, which suits well with the Southeast Asian palate. The crunchy deep-fried shell is just a little odd, having tasted many molten style chocolate cakes with a spongy texture, but overall a nice treat and certainly a cut above the average McDonald's offering.The Birch House was originally the office of Eastern Smelting, which had it's plant right next door where the Times Square Mall is now located. Built in 1908 apparently the back door was close to the plant and it's rumored this was the spot where difficult employees were reprimanded. There are some nice street views on the outdoor upper level. It's not always open so when it is, definitely go up and have a look. Thanks so much for watching and again apologies for the flicker in the video during my tasting segment.

How To Get Around Penang, Malaysia With A Cheap Bike Share What a huge find! Penang's Link Bike share program is only 2 MYR a day for unlimited free 30 minute rides and 1 MYR per hour after. Each time you take a bike out! What a great way to ride the beautiful historic streets of George Town taking in all of the amazing architecture from old shop houses to British Colonial buildings. I used Link Bike alot during my most recent visit to Penang and found it was a great way to see alot of streets in a shorter period of time then walking. As I mentioned in the video, unless you are really adventurous, and used to a tropical climate, you might find extensive rides across town a little on the exhausting side. The traffic and numerous one way streets can be frustrating to negotiate as well. What a great program and so cheap! You could literally get a way with using this program for less than a $1/day. I found there were numerous bike stations around all of the important sites so it was easy to ride from one place of interest to another and have a convenient station to drop the bike off at, as well as pick one up again to move on.

Laos' Adventure Capital-Vang Vieng-Exploring It's BackRoads/Blue Lagoon Vang Vieng has come a long way since it's days as party central in Southeast Asia. Once the home of major tube parties, cheap booze and readily available drugs it has started to transform into an adventure capital. After a few unfortunate deaths/drownings in the Nam Song River the police dropped in and shut down alot of the river bars. You can still find some parties and tubing here but it's not like the old days. It's a pretty chill place and you are definitely exposed to more of the everyday simple life of Laos. There's much to appreciate here from kayaking the river, exploring the caves, and grabbing a motorbike to head for the backroads. Motorbike rental places are easy to find in Vang Vieng and most will help you with directions and even give you a map so you can explore the caves and lagoons of the region. Most caves have a small admission fee, and will most often loan you a lantern. Some will have guides you can hire as well. The Blue Lagoon is a place most hear about and want to visit when they arrive in Vang Vieng. You can catch a tuk tuk out to the Blue Lagoon, or rent mountain bikes, but it will be a hot a sweaty ride out there, forget about walking-the heat is too much for most. Two or three days in Vang Vieng should be enough to capture the essence of rural life and get in an adventure activity or two-some great rock climbing here to check out. Everything here from cheap guesthouses to lux settings on the river. Vang Vieng is an easy 3-3.5 hour bus ride from Vientienne. It's a great way to split up a much longer ride from the capital to Luang Prabang as well!Hope you enjoy the video! I also have an audio podcast in the iTunes Store where I chat about travel in Asia and invite followers and guests on the show with advice and to share travel experiences. Far East Travels Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943Support the channel by becoming a patron! Patrons help with travel and production costs and get exclusive access to content on my Patreon page for as little as $2/month. Check out all of the offers here:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Luang Prabang, Laos-Revealing It's Beauty And Charm I hope you enjoy this film as much as I enjoyed waking up early and walking around the town of Luang Prabang, Laos, inspired to share it's beauty and charm. This is easily one of the most charming towns in all of Southeast Asia, not to be missed as you travel through the region. It has one of the largest monastic communities in the country, it was once the center of power and home of the Royal Family. Luang Prabang can be a little crazy in the morning. Shortly around the time of the beginning of Tak Bak, when monks and novices walk the streets collecting their meal for the day from followers, minivans and taxis invade the center of the town where many of the temples are located dropping off tourists eager to participate in the alms giving. How in the world this became a major tourist activity is beyond me as by my observations, many of the people participating don't even seem to know what or why they are giving alms. It's been a big problem for years with many locals complaining about the tourists, their misunderstanding of the ritual, and in many cases, bad etiquette. I actually found that just before the last of the monks finished up collecting proceeds for their meal of the day the frenzy died down and the ritual, and the town revealed it's true charm. I spent several days on my last visit wandering around the town during this time and capturing footage that became this film. Most everyone ignored me as I filmed them, particularly the monks except for the young novice who looked into the camera lens at the very end. Thanks again for subscribing to the channel and following my life and travels around East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. I also host a podcast available in iTunes or wherever you download your favorite podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943You can also follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Support the channel financially and get access to exclusive content on my Patreon page for as little as $2/month. Visit my page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Saigon, Vietnam-6 Favorite Veg/Vegan Banh Mi Shops I know how frustrating it can be to find vegetarian and vegan options, especially when it comes to tasting local dishes! The banh mi is a classic street food snack or meal in Vietnam. The wonderful baguette from the French colonial period, fresh herbs, veggies and pickles, but unfortunately for vegetarians and vegans the classic version includes mostly pork, pate, sometimes chicken, and occasionally fish. I'm not either a strict vegetarian or vegan, I still indulge in fish and seafood on occasion, but I mostly stick to a plant-based diet so I know the challenges sometimes trying to find things to fit into the diet. Luckily with a Buddhist based culture in Vietnam, vegetarianism/veganism, is a more widely accepted diet or way of life compared with many other countries. I've been eating my way through the many plant-based options in Ho Chi Minh City for the last few weeks and narrowed down 6 of my favorite banh mi that are either vegetarian or vegan. As I mentioned in the video I believe some of the vegetarian options could be vegan if you asked to leave mayo off the bread. The least expensive banh mi was found at Veggie Saigon for d15,000, (takeaway), the most expensive from The Vegan Garden d35,000. We are talking a price range from $0.65-$1.51USD, amazing value! Delivery from District 7 to District 1 for the banh mi from The Vegan Garden was $1.00USD.Please let me know in the comments if you enjoy and appreciate these videos on finding good food, particularly vegetarian and plant-based food, and I'll do more. Ho Chi Minh City was recently named one of the top 15 cities in the world for vegans. I'm not the least bit surprised. I'm finding the options, value, and quality of vegan food in HCMC first rate!Thanks again for watching the video! If you'd like to support the channel you can become a patron for as little as $2/month. Patrons get access to exclusive content including extra videos and tips. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsList of restaurants featured in the video in order:Banh Nam-213 Bui Vien District 1New Hoang Banh Mi-109 Nguyen Thai Bin District -d20,000Veggie Saigon-42 Duong De Tham District 1-d15,000 takeawayCha Hang Chay Au Lac Healthy World-120 Nguyen Trai District 1-d25,000Banh Mi Express-Uptown-17 Pasteur District 1-d20,000The Vegan Garden-So 336 Ha Huy Tap-District 7-d35,000

Beautiful Borneo-East Malaysia-Talk And Sites Along The Sarawak River-Kuching I absolutely love Malaysian Borneo whether its Sabah or Sarawak-two of my favorite spots in Southeast Asia.  This podcast was captured during my last visit to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Not only is this a great base to explore some of the state from, you're only an hour or so away from the incredible landscape and wildlife of Bako National Park and the orangu tan rehabilitation center of Semenggoh Nature Reserve. It's also a wonderful diverse town with a Chinatown, Little India, and some pretty amazing places to eat delicious affordable seafood feasts. On top of that some of the friendliest most welcoming locals I've ever encountered. They should all be compensated by the Tourism Board of Sarawak! It's truly astonishing that more don't visit this paradise of nature, culture, and food. I broadcasted from the Sarawak River as sunset was approaching. It's a lovely place to spend time strolling, stopping for a coffee or tea, and enjoying the lovely atmosphere and surroundings. Since my visit they have opened the Daru Hana Pedestrian Bridge connecting tne north and south sides of Kuching. There was fear when the bridge was first planned the Pak Tambang, the traditional boats  used by villagers to cross the river would become obsolete. But regular commuters wishing to save time would find the boats would make a much faster crossing then a long walk on the new S shaped bridge. Thanks so much for watching the podcast! Don't forget to subscribe to the Far East Travels Audio Podcast:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?mt=2 Support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content on my Patreon channel while supporting production and travel costs. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Help others discover the podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store! Follow the link to get started:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-video-podcast/id890305531?mt=2

Coronation Ceremonies Update-May 6-Bangkok, Thailand-Flashback Episode-August 2017-$90 Million Dollar Royal Funeral Preparations-Bangkok, Thailand I was very fortunate on my August 2017 visit to Bangkok, Thailand to see history in the making as thousands of mourners attended the Grand Palace to pay respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Preparations were also underway to construct a huge funeral pyre, 50 meters in height where the late king's remains would be cremated in October that year. Total cost of the funeral was $90 million USD. King Vajiralongkorn, the son of the late king will be coronated in May. Several roads will be closed in Bangkok from May2-6 for coronation ceremonies. There will be several parking spaces, (lots), 27 in all around the city where people wishing to attend the ceremony will be able to board shuttle buses that will take them to six different spots near the Royal event.  The Grand Palace is the most number one attraction in Bangkok, the number one visited city in the world. This will mark another milestone being the first coronation of a King in Thailand since 1950. Support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons support production and travel costs and get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit These aren't all of the things you should know before you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, Vietnam but it's a start. It also allows me to start this series on Vietnam's largest city! This is an incredibly fascinating city and when you visit your are really watching the process of a rapidly expanding, modernizing city. For now there's still lots of traditional and local neighborhoods that feel like the real Vietnam. I hope have a chance to visit these places as well as seeing all of the famous sites. For Yellow bus 109 here's the link with all of the stops:http://en.sats.com.vn/tan-son-nhat-airport-bus/airport-bus-109-tan-son-nhat-airport-ben-thanh-market . There's also a Yellow bus 119 that will take you to the bus station where you can move on to Can Tho and the Western provinces. I personally use Grab and the GoViet apps for motorbike taxis around the city. If you want to be picked up at the airport by one of them you'll need to walk outside of the domestic terminal area where the motorbikes have to stop.I hope you find these tips helpful. Please let me know what else you'd like to learn about Ho Chi Minh City.I plan on doing lots of videos on food, finding vegetarian and vegan food, good coffee, local producst and more! Don't forget to subscribe to my audio podcast:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?mt=2Connect with me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/Support the channel by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe

Shopping For Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner At A Traditional Market-Taipei,Taiwan Binjiang Market is my favorite traditional morning market to visit in Taipei, Taiwan. Close to the wholesale fruit/vegetable market and wholesale seafood market you can get everything here from bananas to King Crab! Personally I mostly shop for fruit at Binjiang Market. Sometimes I'll buy sashimi and I will occasionally visit the Addiction Aquatic Development Restaurant for takeaway sushi or grilled fish. It's especially exciting to visit the market leading up to Chinese New Year as vendors will bring in special items knowing people will want to buy the best for the reunion dinner. Thanks so much for watching! You can support the channel by becoming a patron! For as little as $2/month you an help with production and travel costs and get access exclusive content! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Help others discover the podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-inspired-by-rick-steves-national-geographic/id890305531?mt=2Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/

Free Samples! Dihua Street Year Of The Pig Lunar New Year Market-Taipei, Taiwan The Dihua Street Lunar New Year, (Chinese New Year), Market takes place every year in Taipei, Taiwan 2 weeks prior to the start of the New Year. In 2019 that’s February 5th, the Year Of The Pig.This is a very exciting time of year marking the most important holiday in Taiwan. This festival is a great way to get to know the culture by sampling the enormous quantity of snacks and food on hand that Taiwanese stock up their pantries with for the holiday. Everything from dried squid, nori snacks, (seaweed), nuts, dried fruit, candies, along with New Year’s traditional food like mullet roe, canned abalone and conch is available. Outside of festival time Dihua Street, also known as “grocery street”, is a commercial district filled with Chinese traditional medicine shops and stores that sell these New Year’s food items year-round. There are lots of cafes and restaurants in this neighborhood from humble stalls or shops that sell noodles and other traditional foods to Italian Restaurants and historic bakeries. During the 19th and early part of the 20th century Dihua Street was the center of commerce for Taipei, when many international companies set up export businesses shipping tea, fabrics, and other goods worldwide. Today it’s one of the most beautiful “old streets” of Taiwan that’s l lined with buildings that go as far back as the Qing Dynasty.Thanks so much for watching the video! Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on your favorite podcast platform or in the iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2Support the YouTube Channel by becoming a patron! For as little as $2/month you can unlock exclusive content including videos, travel tips, and more! Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsFollow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/

Stinky, Crispy, Delicious Hanoi Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I love the street food of Hanoi. My favorites? Rice noodles and tofu dipped in fermented shrimp paste. The paste smells fowl, really bad, but when you start eating it something magical happens. A wonderful umami explosion and since the first time I tried it a few years ago I've been hooked. Fortunately for me, most regional dishes of Vietnam are available in Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), so on my most recent trip I had to dive into some more of this wonderful eating. Alongside the Bun Dau Mam Tom I ordered some crispy wonderful Banh Tom Ho Tay, or West Lake Shrimp Cakes. These are shrimp or prawns deep fried with sweet potato and come with lettuce and herbs in the usual sweet/sour fish sauce for dipping. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed eating this wonderful Hanoi street food!Please subscribe to the channel and share the video! You can support the channel and my podcasts by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content and help with production and travel costs. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWhen in Ho Chi Minh City please visit:https://dauhomemade.vn https://dauhomemade.vn for great street food in an atmospheric setting. Subscribe to my audio podcast for travel tips and inspiration:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2